Abstract

Sputtering yields for niobium bombarded by 12-MeV protons have been measured using a technique involving prior activation of the target material. Values obtained for backward and forward sputtering are SB=(1.6±0.1)×10^-4 and SF=(4.7±0.3)×10^-4, respectively. These values, expected to be similar to fast-neutron sputtering yields, are consistent with most recently published fast-neutron data.